Feast
of the Nativity of the Theotokos
It should go
without saying that if one has any possible means of traveling to a Church to
attend the
liturgy for the
feast, they should do so. However, if it
is not possible for one to do so, the following is
provided so that
at least they can participate in the feast to the extent possible, under such
circumstances.
Beatitude Verses: Feast 4 from Ode 3, Canon
1; 4 from Ode 6, Canon 2
[Those following Byzantine practice can replace
the usual antiphons, with the festal antiphons given in the Festal Menaion,
p127ff.]
1 & 2.
Having lived blamelessly for God, ye gave birth unto the salvation of
all, O divinely wise parents of her who gave birth to our Creator and God.
3. From a
barren woman did the Lord, Who poureth forth life upon
all, cause the Virgin to come forth, in whom He was pleased to make His abode,
preserving her incorrupt even after giving birth.
4. Let us
hymn Mary today as the Theotokos, the fruit of Anna, the intercessor and helper
of all, who gave birth to the life-bearing Cluster.
5. Thy chaste
parents placed thee, who art the Holy of holies, in the temple of the Lord, O
pure one, to be raised with honor and prepared to become His Mother.
6. Join
chorus, ye barren women and mothers! Be
of good cheer and leap up, O ye childless!
For a childless and barren woman buddeth forth the Theotokos who
delivereth Eve from her birth pangs and Adam from the curse.
7. In thee, O
pure one, is the mystery of the Trinity hymned and glorified; for the Father was
well pleased, and the Word made His abode within thee, and the divine Spirit overshadowed
thee.
8. Thou wast
a golden candlestick, O pure Theotokos, for in thy womb the Fire made His abode:
the Word from the Holy Spirit; and He became visible
in thee, in human form.
Troparion
Tone 4: Thy
nativity, O Theotokos Virgin, /
hath proclaimed joy to all
the world; /
for from thee hath dawned the
Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, /
annulling the curse, and
bestowing the blessing, //
abolishing death and granting
us life eternal.
The Epistle
Reader: The Prokimenon in the 3rd Tone: My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath
rejoiced in God my Savior.
Choir: My soul doth
magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
Reader: For He hath looked upon the lowliness of
His handmaiden; for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me
blessed.
Choir: My
soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
Reader: My soul doth magnify the Lord.
Choir: And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior
Reader: The Reading is
from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Philippians: [Philippians 2:5-11]
Reader: Alleluia in the 8th Tone.
Choir: Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear.
Choir: Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: The rich among the people shall entreat
thy countenance.
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia!
Gospel [Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28]
Kontakion
Tone 4: Joachim and Anna were freed from the reproach
of childlessness /
and Adam and Eve from the
corruption of death, by thy holy nativity, O immaculate one, /
which thy people, redeemed from
the guilt of offenses, /
celebrate, by crying to thee:
//
The barren woman giveth birth
to the Theotokos, the nourisher of our life.
Instead of “It is truly
meet…” we chant the Irmos of the 9th Ode of the Second Canon of the
feast, Eighth Tone:
Refrain: Magnify, O my soul, / the most glorious
nativity of the Mother of God.
Irmos: Foreign to mothers is virginity, /
and strange is
childbirth for virgins, /
yet both were
accomplished in thee, O Theotokos. /
Wherefore, we and
all generations of the earth //
without ceasing
do magnify thee.